Pennington, who has run the theater since 2006, had recently been working with Kurt Wehner. The partnership soured, however, and has been dissolved. Wehner is in the process of buying the theater and will formally take over after “Rent” closes.

He has wanted to do “Rent” for a long time. The rock opera updates “La Boheme,” setting the tale among New York bohemians in the '90s.

“It's about everyone coming together as one, no matter what their sexual orientation or position in life,” Pennington said. “It's about equality and life and love.”

One of the show's big songs, “No Day But Today,” has taken on particular meaning for him, he said: “It has helped me as an artist get through trials that I'm going through with the theater company.

“Honestly, if this is the last thing I ever do, I want San Antonio to see the power behind this show. It's not about Jonathan Pennington. For me, it's about ‘Rent,' and it's about art and life and ‘La Vie Boheme.'”